Mathematical Thinking for Teachers
Why This Learning Experience?
This instructor-guided professional learning experience is designed to help educators learn on their schedule while still receiving meaningful support. Participants complete practical activities, connect ideas to real classroom practice, and build confidence through application-focused learning.
Learning Experience Overview
This course introduces educators to the principles of mathematical thinking and explores how to cultivate problem-solving, reasoning, communication, and creativity in the mathematics classroom. Rather than focusing exclusively on procedures and correct answers, participants learn strategies that help students make connections, justify their thinking, and approach challenges with curiosity and persistence.
Modern mathematics standards emphasize reasoning, modeling, communication, and conceptual understanding. This course helps educators shift instruction from memorization and procedural fluency alone toward deeper mathematical understanding. Through practical tools, examples, and classroom-ready activities, participants gain confidence designing lessons that encourage students to think mathematically, explain their reasoning, and solve problems in meaningful ways.
By the end of the course, educators will have developed strategies that support mathematical discourse, critical thinking, and real-world problem-solving while creating classrooms where students view mathematics as a process of exploration and discovery.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Define mathematical thinking and explain its role in student learning.
- Apply problem-solving strategies that encourage deeper mathematical understanding.
- Promote reasoning, justification, and mathematical communication.
- Design learning experiences that encourage creativity and exploration in mathematics.
- Create classroom environments that support persistence, curiosity, and productive struggle.
- Redesign instructional activities to emphasize mathematical thinking and problem-solving.
Who Should Participate?
- Elementary, middle, and high school math teachers
- Educators focused on conceptual math learning
- Instructional coaches supporting math instruction
